System and method for scheduling transmission of network packets

A computer-implemented method of scheduling packets for transmission over a network, via a gateway device having a packet buffer for temporarily storing packets intended for a network device, comprising:

• determining a size of the packet buffer;
• receiving a packet at the gateway device, directed to the network device;
• determining, in the gateway device, if the received packet is the start of a new packet session for the network device;
• forwarding, by the gateway device, the received packet to the network device if determined to be start of the new packet session;
• and
• dropping, by the gateway device, the received packet if determined not to be start of a new packet session responsive to determining a size of the packet buffer is below a packet drop threshold value;
• marking for network congestion control, by the gateway device, the received packet if determined not to be start of a packet session and not to be dropped, and responsive to determining the size of the packet buffer exceeds a packet mark threshold value;
• and
• forwarding the marked received packet to the network device.

A network computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• a network interface;
• and
• a memory including instructions operable to be executed by the processor to perform a set of actions to configure the processor to:
• receive a packet at the network interface, directed to a network device;
• determine if the received packet is the start of a new packet session for the network device;
• forward the received packet to the network device if determined to be start of the new packet session;
• drop the received packet if determined not to be start of a new packet session;
• determine a size of the packet buffer, wherein the received packet is dropped to determining a size of the packet buffer is below a packet drop threshold value;
• mark for network congestion control the received packet if determined not to be start of a packet session and not to be dropped, and responsive to determining the size of the packet buffer exceeds a packet mark threshold value;
• and
• forward the marked received packet to the network device.